A & P 1 Unit 01 Vocabulary Body Organization and Terminology

Abdominal cavity

contains most of the viscera

Abdominopelvic cavity

contains the stomach, liver, spleen, gallbladder, kidneys, and most of the small and large intestines. It also contains urinary bladder and internal reproductive organs such as a vagina, uterus and ovaries

Anatomy

the study of the body plan of organisms

Atom

the basic unit of matter

Cardiovascular system

the heart, blood vessels, and blood that circulates throughout the body; delivers nutrients and other essential materials to cells, and removes waste products

Cell

the functional basic unit of life

Chemical

a substance that cannot be separated without breaking bonds

Coronal plane

is any vertical plane that divides the body into ventral and dorsal (belly and back) sections

Cranial cavity

contains the brain

Cross section

a cutting along the short axis of a structure

Deep

further from the surface of the body

Diaphragm

a sheet of muscle separating the thoracic and abdominal cavities

Digestive system

the alimentary canal together with the salivary glands, liver, pancreas, and other organs; it chemically and physically processes food for absorption

Distal

further from the trunk of the body

Effector

muscles, organs, or other structures that receive signals from the control center

Endocrine system

hormone secreting glands; functions to regulate body activities

Homeostasis

maintaining conditions within a narrow range

Inferior

below another part of the body

Integumentary system

the skin and its associated structures, such as the hair, nails, sweat glands, and sebaceous glands; it protects the body from loss of water and other forms of damage

Lateral

further from the midline of the body

Longitudinal section

a cutting along the long axis of a structure

Lymphatic system

a network of vessels, tissues, and organs that helps the body regulate fluid balance and fight infection

Macromolecule

a very large molecule commonly created by polymerization of smaller subunits

Medial

closer to the midline of the body

Mediastinum

contains the heart, the esophagus, the trachea, the phrenic nerve, the cardiac nerve, the thoracic duct, the thymus, and the lymph nodes of the central chest

Molecule

two or more atoms covalently bonded together

Muscular system

skeletal, smooth, and cardiac _____ tissue; it functions in movement of the body or of materials through the body, maintenance of posture, and heat production

Negative feedback

occurs when the result of a process influences the operation of the process itself in such a way as to reduce changes

Nervous system

the brain, spinal cord, _____, ganglia, and parts of the receptor and effector organs; it regulates the body's responses to internal and external stimuli

Oblique section

slicing a structure in any plane that does not parallel the longitudinal axis or intersect it at a right angle

Organ

a collection of tissues joined in a structural unit to serve a common function

Organ system

a group of organs working together to accomplish a task

Organelle

a specialized subunit within a cell that has a specific function

Parietal membrane

the layer of a serous membrane that is in contact with a body wall

Pericardial membrane (pericardium)

the serous membrane that encloses the heart and the roots of the aorta and other large blood vessels

Peritoneal membrane

the serous membrane that lines the walls of the abdominal cavity and folds inward to enclose the viscera

Physiology

the study of the functions of organisms

Pleural membrane

the serous membrane that covers the lungs

Reproductive system

gonads, associated ducts, and external genitals concerned with sexual reproduction

Respiratory system

organs and tissues involved in drawing oxygen into the body and removing carbon dioxide: in mammals it includes the nasal cavity, pharynx, trachea, bronchi, lungs, and the diaphragm

Pelvic cavity

primarily contains reproductive organs, the urinary bladder, the pelvic colon, and the rectum

Pericardial cavity

a potential space between the parietal pericardium and visceral layer

Posterior

back of the body

Positive feedback

a mechanism where a change causes additional change away from the normal state

Proximal

closer to the trunk of the body

Receptor

provides information about conditions within the body

Response

in negative feedback, the change that brings conditions back to normal. In positive feedback, the change that pushes conditions farther from normal.

Sagittal plane

divides the body from the left to the right

Serous fluid

a thin watery fluid found in many body cavities

Serous membrane

a double walled membrane that secretes lubricating fluid in the cavity that forms between the membranes

Skeletal system

the bones, their associated cartilages, and the joints; it supports and protects the body, produces blood cells, and stores minerals

Stimulus

change in the internal environment

Superficial

closer to the surface of the body

Thoracic cavity

contains the heart esophagus, trachea, lungs and other organs of the chest

Tissue

a collection of similar cells of similar origin that carry out the same function

Transverse plane

divides the body into superior and inferior parts

Urinary system

organs and tissues involved with regulation of water content and salt concentration in the body and with the excretion of metabolic wastes and excess water and salt

Vertebral canal

contains the spinal cord

Viscera

internal organs collectively (especially those in the abdominal cavity)

Visceral membrane

the layer of a serous membrane that is in contact with an organ